Summary

In this episode, Shona Kerr interviews Brad Snyder, a retired US Navy SEAL, Paralympic gold medalist, and author. Brad shares his journey from a vibrant childhood in Florida to becoming a decorated athlete after a life-altering injury in Afghanistan. He discusses the importance of resilience, the power of a growth mindset, and how he transformed his challenges into opportunities for success. Brad emphasizes the significance of service, both in the military and in life, and how his experiences have shaped his perspective on gratitude and purpose. He also reflects on his transition from swimming to triathlon, highlighting the teamwork involved in adaptive sports and the lessons learned along the way.

Takeaways

"You can either focus on what's missing or be grateful for what you still have."
"Living a life of meaning means committing to other people and being a good person."
"Don't waste your time here; make the most of it."
"I want to inspire others to push their boundaries and not be complacent."
"Every time someone says your name, you keep their memory alive."

Sound Bites

""Let me just take for a moment how be let me be grateful for a moment for all the things I still have.""
""We don't know how much time we have, so make the most of it.""
""I want to be remembered as someone who was always pushing the boundary.""

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Early Life
07:39 Military Career and Team Dynamics
13:28 Juxtaposition of Beauty and Violence
18:41 Navigating Trauma and Identity
24:25 Dating and Relationships
30:05 Faith and Control in Life
36:58 The Meaning of Service
44:29 Moments of Realization and Acceptance
51:51 Overcoming Challenges in Triathlon
01:00:55 Balancing Life and Future Aspirations
01:07:23 Outro.mp3

• (00:00:20) - In Infinite Human: Brad Snyder
• (00:02:22) - Naval Academy swimmer Brad Snyder
• (00:08:56) - Post-College Maturity
• (00:10:07) - Paralympians on Military Deployment
• (00:13:28) - In My Eyes: Fire in My Eyes
• (00:17:15) - Paralympic gold medalist on finding a new identity after the
• (00:23:12) - How I Learned To Love My Wife
• (00:25:50) - Blind People on the Need for Interdependence
• (00:29:27) - Inshallah: A Christian Survivor's Story
• (00:32:20) - The Tension of Parenting
• (00:34:09) - Tom Clancy on Loss and How He Carries the Grief
• (00:37:08) - What does service mean to you now?
• (00:41:02) - Philosophy of Military Decisions
• (00:44:22) - Bradley on The Bombing
• (00:46:45) - Blind Paralyzed Athlete Turns to Triathlon
• (00:49:58) - Captivating the Olympic dream in triathlon
• (00:54:06) - On the Fight Against COVID
• (00:55:28) - The Secret to Winning With a Guide
• (01:00:57) - Paralympic Champion and Dad
• (01:03:07) - Thank You Now: A message about living your time

In this conversation, Amy Baltzell, an elite sports and executive performance consultant, shares her journey from a novice athlete at Wesleyan University to becoming a member of the US Olympic rowing team. She discusses the pivotal moments in her career, including her experiences in the America's Cup and the importance of team dynamics. Amy emphasizes the significance of sports psychology in managing internal distress and optimizing performance, highlighting techniques such as gratitude and mindfulness. She also explores the universal application of these principles across various fields, including business and personal development, and advocates for living in a state of flow to enhance overall well-being and performance.

Takeaways

Having someone believe in you can change your trajectory.
The journey from distress to ease is essential for performance.
Team dynamics are crucial for success in any sport.
Chronic stress is a growing issue among athletes today.
Gratitude can shift energy and improve performance.
Mindfulness practices can help manage internal distress.
Spirituality can enhance performance but is not necessary for success.
Living in flow can be cultivated intentionally.
The importance of connection and support in high-pressure environments.
Personal experiences shape our approach to helping others.

Sound bites

"It's about being connected to the moment."
"You can live in flow."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy Baltzell
02:53 Journey to Wesleyan and Early Sports Career
05:46 Transition to Sports Psychology
08:55 The Impact of the America's Cup
11:39 Team Dynamics and Collaboration
14:48 Current Challenges in Sports Psychology
17:35 Techniques for Managing Internal Distress
20:23 The Role of Gratitude and Connection
23:34 Spirituality and Performance
26:32 The Universal Application of Mindfulness
29:32 Living in Flow and Performance Optimization

In this conversation, Jeremy shares his profound journey from being fully sighted to becoming a world-renowned blind golfer. He discusses the challenges he faced after losing his sight at 19, the support he received from family and friends, and how he rediscovered his passion for golf through blind golf. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of interdependence, illustrating how asking for help can be a strength rather than a weakness. He also reflects on his experiences as a motivational speaker, aiming to inspire others to embrace interdependence in their lives. The conversation concludes with Jeremy's aspirations for the future, including writing a book on interdependence.

Takeaways

• Jeremy lost his sight at 19 due to a rare genetic disorder.
• He transitioned to blind golf with the help of his father as a guide.
• Interdependence is a crucial lesson learned through his journey.
• Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
• Jeremy emphasizes the importance of community and support.
• He has traveled the world competing in blind golf tournaments.
• His experiences have shaped him into a motivational speaker.
• Jeremy aims to inspire others through his story and lessons.
• He plans to write a book on interdependence.
• Family plays a significant role in his life and values.

Summary

In this conversation, Sarah Weiss shares her journey as a trans woman, discussing her childhood in Canada, the challenges of understanding her gender identity, and the process of transitioning. She reflects on her experiences in sports, the impact of societal norms, and the importance of community and collaboration. Sarah emphasizes the need for inclusivity in sports and the power of storytelling as a means of healing and empowerment. She also touches on her spiritual beliefs and the role of religion in shaping her perspective. Throughout the conversation, Sarah encourages listeners to live boldly and authentically, embracing their true selves.

Takeaways

Sarah Weiss shares her multifaceted identity as a trans woman, athlete, and author.
Her childhood in Canada was marked by both normalcy and trauma, shaping her perspective.
Understanding her gender identity was a long and complex journey for Sarah.
Transitioning at 26 was a pivotal moment in her life, allowing her to embrace her true self.
Sarah emphasizes the importance of community support during her transition.
She discusses the challenges of navigating relationships as a trans woman.
Sports have played a significant role in her identity and self-acceptance.
Sarah advocates for inclusivity in sports, proposing a 'People vs. People' league.
Her spiritual beliefs center around love and connection, transcending traditional religious views.
Sarah encourages others to live boldly and authentically, despite societal pressures.

Sound bites

"I want to bring Marvel to sports."
"I love people and their stories."
"Live boldly. Life is for the bold."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sarah Weiss
03:57 Childhood and Early Experiences
06:55 Understanding Gender Identity
09:39 The Journey to Transition
12:18 Navigating Relationships and Self-Discovery
15:19 Experiences in the Workplace
18:23 Life After Transition
21:08 Advice on Gender Dynamics and Collaboration
30:05 Navigating Workplace Dynamics as a Woman
31:27 The Freedom of Authenticity
35:02 The Therapeutic Journey of Writing
37:51 Empowerment Through Authentic Living
41:29 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change
42:23 The Role of Parenting in Acceptance
46:32 The Journey into Pickleball and Self-Discovery
52:16 Facing Challenges in Sports as a Trans Woman
57:36 Empowerment Through Authenticity
59:28 Navigating Controversy in Sports
01:05:44 Reimagining Sports for Inclusivity
01:16:26 Spirituality and Personal Beliefs
01:23:43 Goals and Aspirations for the Future
01:28:53 Outro.mp3

Today on infinite human we welcome Laura Trevelyan. Laura has worked as an international journalist covering major war zones, peace treaties and more recently the jan 6th attack on the US capitol building.

Her last position was working as a news anchor for BBC world where she retired to focus on slavery repatriations in the Caribbean, notably Granada, where she discovered family ties to being slave owners. Rather than bury this fact, she has boldly put it out in the open to acknowledge the atrocities of the time, her family’s part and is addressing what reparations should look like. Through advocacy she has sparked conversations government wide.

Laura was recently given the honor of being named Chancellor of Cardiff University in Wales and we are honored that she is talking with us today.

Infinite Human welcomes Dr Christine de Blasio and Geneviéve Henry to our show. Dr de Blasio is a founding member and Geneviéve Henry is the executive director of the Safety Team.

The Safety Team is an organization that teaches a proven form of self-defence to all kinds of groups and individuals.

They talk about how the Safety Team came about as well as their own personal journeys toward that. They give some wonderfully helpful information on what their sessions cover and how they actually have fun. They're working to empower, and therapeutically empower, individuals for their own safety, in some cases to heal from trauma as well as building self-confidence in all areas of life.

They are both black belts in Kempo Jujitsu, have fascinating lives outside of the safety team, and most recently, Dr. Blasio was named USA Today's Vermont Women of the Year. Please enjoy listening to these amazing ladies.

To Learn more about the Safety Team's please visit www.thesafetyteam.org. There are special events in April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM).

Pete Asadourian is one of the most respected physical trainers to professional athletes in central Connecticut. Pete has worn many hats in his career with the recent constant of his company, Future Fitness Pro, for the last 20+ years. Pete is also a basketball coach and is the youngest coach to win a high school state championship with the Rocky Hill High School boys team. He now works with the Rocky Hill girls team and hope to repeat this feat. He talks about the challenge of overcoming stage 3 cancer and what life now means to him since. Pete is looking to pursue more motivational speaking and has outlined his lifes journey. achievements and challenges in his book - Built Different - you can find it to purchase HERE

David Kendall is writer/producer/director who has worked in both television and

film for decades. His credits include series for the broadcast networks, cable outlets,

and streaming services. He has created shows, run shows, and directed pilots. He’s

been a member of the Writers Guild of America since 1985 and a member of the

Directors Guild of America since 1990.

He has produced and written for iconic situation comedies like ABC’s Growing Pains

and Boy Meets World and has directed classic kids’ programs like Nickelodeon’s

iCarly and Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. For five years, he Executive Produced

a series he co-created for ABC Family/Freeform entitled Melissa & Joey, a romantic

comedy which concluded its run in 2015 after 104 episodes. He wrote and directed

episodes of the series as well.

In 2020 he Executive Produced The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, a half hour

coming-of-age comedy for Netflix, directing their memorable musical Christmas

episode. More recent directing credits include Erin & Aaron for Nickelodeon, Sydney

to the Max for the Disney Channel, and Katharine McPhee’s Netflix series Country

Comfort.

On the feature side, David directed Steppin’ Into the Holiday, a musical Christmas

movie starring Mario Lopez, which premiered in November of 2022 on the Lifetime

Network. Previously, he directed the teen comedy Dirty Deeds, starring Milo

Ventimiglia, Zoë Saldana, and Charles Durning. In that same genre, David wrote The

New Guy, a Sony Pictures release which opened in 2600 theaters. He has co-written

and/or produced several movies for television, including The Growing Pains Reunion

Movie - a reunion for David as well, since that show was his very first television

credit.

In terms of actors, David has worked with Oscar Winners, Emmy Winners, Tony

Winners, Grammy Winners, Professional Wrestlers, Adult Film Actors, Olympic Gold

Medalists, and NFL Hall of Famers. With many family shows to his credit, he’s

directed scores of talented young actors, from A (Ariana Grande) to Z (Zendaya). He

has credits on over 40 different series. All told, that’s over 600 episodes of television

- 200 plus of them as director.

He has been a guest speaker for classes and workshops at USC and the American

Film Institute. Since 2023, David has been a Visiting Instructor at Wesleyan

University (his alma mater) where he teaches a directing workshop. He continues

his freelance directing career while also developing scripts for television and film. A

Philadelphia native, David resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their three

children.

Television Series Credits (Partial List):

Growing Pains - 1985-1991- writer, producer

Just the Ten of Us - 1988-1990 - writer, director

Boy Meets World - 1994-1999 - writer, producer, director

Clueless - 1999 - director

Even Stevens - 2003 - director

That’s So Raven - 2003 - director

Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide - 2004-2007 - director

Hannah Montana - 2006 - director

iCarly - 2007-2012 - director

Zoey 101 - 2007-2008 - director

Melissa & Joey - 2009-2015 - co-creator, writer, producer, director

Victorious - 2010-2013 - director

Big Time Rush - 2010-2012 - director

T...